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Multi-faith leaders lend support to anti-casino movement in Sudbury

Several groups are planning an appeal, should city council approve plans to re-zone land for the Kingsway Entertainment District. That now includes a group of 35 multi-faith leaders from across Greater Sudbury. They have joined together to oppose the plans for a casino in the city's east end.

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City council to vote Tuesday on rezoning land proposed for Kingsway Entertainment Centre

Increased gambling = social impacts

He says he's joining the anti-casino movement because of the social problems and gambling creates in a community.

"You're mortgaging your house because you're out of money and you think you can win it back by going to the casino. That becomes a moral issue. You're not looking after your family anymore," Damphousse said.

Damphousse is also concerned that money would be directed to the casino, instead of non-profit groups or charities.

"The money is going to this one source and it's not being redistributed to the community as it is right now. This is detrimental to [the] community," he said.

"I would be pretty confident that most of the Catholics here have concerns about a casino being build here in Sudbury."

Who is the real winner?

The Sudbury Interfaith Dialogue is made up of people of different faiths. Reverend Dave Nichol is the coordinator of that group.

He says gambling creates a lot of social and personal problems.

"There is a general perception that when you win, you've won the casino's money. You've beat the system," he said.

"In reality, you've just won money from the guy sitting beside you. The winner goes home with somebody else's money, and all too often somebody who can't really afford to lose that money," Nichol added.

He is concerned city council is forging ahead with these casino plans, without looking at future implications.

"Although the taxes and the jobs might look good, the bulk of the money, the biggest chunk, is going out of town to, I suppose, the owners of the casino," Nichol says.

Broad consensus forming

Duncanson-Hales says the faith leaders joining the anti-casino movement gives it more weight.

"There's a broad coalition forming," he said. "There's a consensus among people who are concerned about this," he said.

"For Casino Free Sudbury, for the faith community leaders it has everything to do with our community and with the fact that we don't need a $60 million expansion to casino gambling in Sudbury."

About the Author

Angela Gemmill

Journalist

Angela Gemmill is a CBC journalist who has covered news in Sudbury, Ont., for 13 years. Connect with her on Twitter @AngelaGemmill. Send story ideas to angela.gemmill@cbc.ca